2019 Program

Our Strength, Our Inspiration, OUR WOMEN

2019 Staff

In addition to our incredible staff of Shawn Marie Gorring, Marvina Davis, Kayla Quick, and Alyssa Visnosky, we are proud to introduce 2 new additions:

Music Arranger: Robert Sherretz

Robert Sherretz has been teaching and instructing color guards for the past 16 years, including The Colts Drum and Bugle Corps, Cadets 2, The Caballeros, and the Red Land/West Shore color guard programs. His marching experience includes Magic of Orlando and the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps. He is a graduate of the Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a bachelors degree in Elementary Education and Wilkes University with Masters Degrees in Instructional Technology and Classroom Technology. He has since transitioned from his tenure in public education to pursue a career in training development, course design, and learning consulting. So when he is not instructing or building training materials, he enjoys amateur photography and traveling with his husband.

Staging: Ron Abate

Ron Abate is recognized as a designer, consultant and clinician in pageantry arts. He has been Executive Director for the Pennsylvania Federation of Contest Judges, Visual Education Director and Associate Director in his tenure. He is currently the Director of Education for the Cavalcade of Bands. Dr. Abate has been connected to many notable ensembles and championship programs: The Empire Statesmen Drum and Bugle Corps, Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps, Cicero-North Syracuse, Northstars, The Laurens "Jaguars" color guards, Piscataway HS "Superchiefs", the Rochester Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps, Naples Winterguard, the West Genesee HS "Wildcats" Marching Band, the Kingston Grenadiers Drum and Bugle Corps of Ontario Canada, the Steel City Ambassadors Mini Corps and California University of Pennsylvania Marching Band; to name a few. He has adjudicated for PFCJ, IPA, NJNJ, Drum Corps Associates, Drum Corps International, NYFCJ, NYSFBC, US Bands, Musical Arts Conference, Cavalcade of Bands, CWEA, TRWEA, Ontario Drum Corps Association, SWFCGC, NESBA, and the New York State Percussion Circuit. Ron is also an Associate Member of the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame and the International Trumpet Guild. In the local community, Ron has been Vice President of the board of directors for the Stevens-Swan Humane Society in Utica, NY (where he lived for 26 years). He served as a committee member for the National Distance Running Hall of Fame and with the Boilermaker 15K Road Race Committee in Upstate New York. Dr Abate is active in animal cruelty prevention and advocates for victims of domestic violence with pro-bono counseling. He resides in the Pittsburgh area with his 7 year old, Samoyed, Chloe May.

2019 Winter Guard Auditions

Auditions for the 2019 Season will be held at North East Middle or High School (TBD)